Hurricane Sandy

( REUTERS/Tom Mihalek / October 29, 2012 )

A gas station along U.S. Route 30, the White Horse Pike, one of three major approaches to Atlantic City, New Jersey, is submerged in water from Absecon Bay in this view looking east during the approach of Hurricane Sandy, October 29, 2012. Hurricane Sandy began battering the U.S. East Coast on Monday with fierce winds and driving rain, as the monster storm shut down transportation, shuttered businesses and sent thousands scrambling for higher ground hours before the worst was due to strike.